62 



wants of the worms ; the litter is never removed, but is 

 suffered to accumulate, frequently to the height of three 

 feet. When the worms are ready for winding, branches 

 and brushes are planted immediately over the collected 

 mass, and on these the cocoons are formed; and these 

 being collected, the rooms are then cleared out, and the 

 reeling is commenced.- 



This is the rude and abominably negligent mode, 

 practised 'in Broussa, the great silk district of Turkey, 

 where the best silk is produced. Thus in Turkey, the 

 silk-worms are reared in cities as well as in country 

 villages, and the food is purchased in the market, these 

 cities and villages being surrounded by the plantations 

 of the mulberry. 



I have been thus particular in describing the mode of 

 rearing silk in Turkey, not by any means that I would 

 propose it as an example for our imitation, but as a 

 striking proof of the great strength of constitution which 

 is possessed by the silk-worms : and the only mystery 

 appears to be, to comprehend by what power the silk- 

 worms are endued, which can enable them, thus situa- 

 ted, not only to live and survive, but also to produce val- 

 uable crops. 



SECTION XXII. 

 SPACE REQUIRED FOR SILK-WORMS. 



FIVE ounces of the eggs of the silk-worm, it is com- 

 puted, will produce two hundred thousand silk-worms. 

 This appears to be the calculation of the Comte Dando- 

 lo, from actual count of an ounce or parts thereof. 



Nothing but the most disastrous results can be ex- 

 pected as a consequence, from crowding the silk-worms 



